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1 August 2005, 03:04 pm

One Day Left In Chicago

Disabled Sailing News

Chicago, Illinois, USA

Day two of the US Independence Cup/North American Challenge Cup saw more beautiful, though still hot, weather in Chicago, Illinois, USA. A ten to twelve knot southwest shore breeze got the morning heats off to a fast start yesterday with waves of one foot or less a welcome change from the lumps and light air of Saturday.

The southwestern breeze can have some shifts when it flows out of the city, so the sailors had to be nimble.

The first heat saw defending Freedom 20 champions Karen MITCHELL and crew Kerry GRUSON (USA) off like a rocket as they took three bullets. Donna DEMAREST and crew Paul MCKENNA (USA) managed to hang fairly close with a 2, 3, 3 for second best performance in the heat.

The afternoon heats were hoping for some 12-15 knot breezes when the wind died out. The Race Committee moved the course out about another mile and after about an hour hour postponement, found a building eight knot sea breeze. By the third race of the heat, the wind was getting light again, but still all six races schedule for the day took place.

In the Freedom 20's, Tim FLYNN and crew Paul COQUETTE (USA) turned it on with two bullets in the afternoon heat. Joe COOK and crew Carlos RODRIGUEZ (USA) managed to stay in the running with the only other bullet in the afternoon heat. Their performance was good enough to keep them in the top three for the finals today. The 2.4mR afternoon heat saw Saturday's leader, Nick SCANDONE (USA) dominating the fleet with three first place finishes in the afternoon heat. Mark BRYANT (USA) had some consistent top finishes in Sunday's racing, and worked his way into the Gold Fleet on Monday.

Jim Armstrong (As Amended By ISAF). Image, Defending Freedom 20 champs Karen MITCHELL and Kerry GRUSON are in first place going into today's finals:© Event Media